Foundation garment



Aug. 17 1943. F. N. LEWIS FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed Aug. 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 X443 A TTORNEY Aug, 1943 F. N. LEWIS 2,327,310

FOUNDAT ION GARMEN T Filed Aug. 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR.

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FOUNDATION GARMENT Florence N. Lewis, New York, N. Y. Application August 25, 1942, Serial No. 456,297

2 Claims.

This invention relates to foundation garments, and particularly to the garment known as a girdle.

Such girdles are usually constructed of a combination of stretchable and non-stretchable materials and their purpose is to confine the mid-, section of the body within symmetrical outlines, and without discomfort to the wearer. The girdle thus forms a shapely foundation for such garments as are worn over it.

Many combinations and arrangements of stretchable and non-stretchable materials have been used in the construction of such girdles but the features of construction in my improved garment produce a girdle giving greater anatomical comfort to the wearer without sacrificing any of the purposes for which such girdles are worn.

Th construction and advantages of my improved girdle will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front perspective view of my improved girdle shown on a figure in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of my improved girdle shown on a figure in dotted lines;

v Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the sections of fabric used in constructing my girdle.

My improved garment is constructed entirely of a stretchable material, such as Lastex, having superimposed on portions of the front and rear panels sections of non-stretchable material.

In the drawings, I I is the girdle as a whole. I2 are the side panels, I3 is the front panel and I4 the rear panel. These four panels are all of stretchable material, the panels I2 and I3 being of material that stretches both longitudinally and transversely, while the rear panel I4 is of material having only a transverse stretch. I5 is the superimposed section of non-stretchable material on the front panel I3, and I5 is the section of non-stretchable material superimposed on the rear panel I4.

As will be seen from the drawings, the panels I5 and I6 are the full width of the panels I3 and I4, but are shorten longitudinally than the panels 13 and M.

In constructing my girdle I superimpose the non-stretchable section I5 across the front panel I3 slightly above the center. This section I5 is sewed securely to the under panel l3 at all four sides, thus preventing th portion of the front panel so covered from stretching in any direction. In its preferred form the top and sides of the section I5 are cut straight while the bottom edge is slightly rounded inwardly. As is common with most girdles, the lower center of the panel I3 is provided with a triangular stretchable insert II sewed thereinto with reinforced seams to provide for the heavier strains on that part of the girdle due to the movements of the lower limbs in walking, etc.

Similarly, on the rear panel I4 I superimpose the non-stretchable section I6. This section is likewise cut straight at its top and sides and its lower edge is curved slightly upward. This section I6 is longitudinally longer than the front section I5, but shorter than the rear under panel I4. This section is also sewed securely at all four edges to the under panel I4 and extends from the top of the girdle, where it is stitched to the top edge of the panel I4, down approximately fivesixths of the entire length of the girdle.

The contiguous sides of the four panels I2, I3 and I4 are then joined together, forming a tubular garment. For more readily putting on or removing the girdle an opening I8 is provided part way along one of the seams joining the front and side panels. This opening is provided with a slidable or other fastening means for closing it, and if desired this fastening means may be sup plemented with hook and eye fasteners (not Show?) concealed on a placket under the openinsl The usual garters I9 are provided at the lower front and rear edges of the girdle for attachment to the wearers stockings.

As will be seen from Figure l, the superimposed section I5 being longitudinally shorter than the under panel I3 and being disposed at approximately the center thereof there is left above and below the section I5 portions of the stretchable panel l3 free to stretch longitudinally and transversely,

In Figure 2 it will be seen that the superimposed section IG, on the rear panel, extends from the top of the girdle down approximately fivesixths of the length of the under panel I4 thus leaving only the bottom portion of the panel I4 free to stretch transversely.

The purpose of this front and back construction is to retain the mid-section of the body in symmetrical contour while permitting the wearer to breathe properly. The tendency of persons when breathing is to expand the abdomen, which is not conducive to shapliness, nor is it the approved manner for healthy breathing.

With my improved girdle the superimposed section I5, being non-stretchable, resists the tendency of the abdomen to expand to any nocontract with the movements of the body in walking or sitting.

Suitable flexible stays are disposed about the upper edge of the girdle, such as at 22, to prevent the top edge from curling, and the usual garter connections i9 keep the girdle from creeping up.

By constructing my girdle with an all-elastic base I provide a glove-like fitting garment more effective in confining the body within symmetrical lines than garments otherwise constructed, and by means of my superimposed sections of non-stretchable material I nullify the elasticity of such portions of the garment as cover those portions of the body most given to expansion, and thus I provide a comfortable form-fitting foundation garment,

What I claim is: i

l. A garment of the character described, comprising all-elastic front, rear and side panels sewed together to form a tubular garment, said front panel having superimposed thereon a section of non-elastic material shorter longitudinally than the elastic panel and disposed across approximately the center of said elastic panel, and said rear panel having superimposed thereon a section of non-elastic material shorter 1ongitudinally than the elastic panel and extending from the top down to below the center of said elastic panel, both said non-elastic sections being sewed at their four sides to the respective front and rear elastic panels, whereby said panels have portions thereof which are stretchable and portions which are not stretchable, an opening partway along one seam of said garment and means for closing such opening, and supporting stays disposed about the top portion.

2. A garment of the character described comprising all-eiastic front, rear and side panels sewed together to form a tubular garment, said front panel having superimposed thereon a section of non-elastic material shorter longitudinally than the elastic panel and disposed across approximately the center of said elastic panel, and said rear panel having superimposed thereon a section of non-elastic material shorter 1ongitudinally than the elastic panel and extending from the top down to below the center of said elastic panel, both said non-elastic sections being sewed at their four sides to the respective front and rear elastic panels whereby only the upper and lower portions of said front elastic panel and the lower portion of said rear elastic panel are permitted to expand and contract.

FLORENCE N. LEWIS. 

